Reversible wall assembly

ABSTRACT

A wall assembly for mounting on a substantially planar supporting wall structure and characterized by being easily reversible to provide a desired decorative effect. The wall assembly includes at least two elongated splines which are removably secured in spaced-apart parallel relation to the planar supporting structure. An elongate planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics for providing a desired decorative appearance on opposite faces thereof has the longitudinal edges thereof reversibly interconnected with proximal edges of the splines.

tries atnt Scuyler et al,

[ Well, 22, W72

[54] IREWESHBLE WALL ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Richard C. Schuyler; Jacquie G. Schuyler, both of 6120 Elmwood Circle, Charlotte, NC. 28214; Margaret 1E. Grlll'in, 1336-A Green Oak Lane, Charlotte, NC. 28205; William E. Tobias, 3108 Buckeye Drive, West Columbia, SC. 29169; .laclr ll. Finney, 901 Frink St., Cayce, S.C. 29033 3,282,004 1 1/1966 Brounn ..52/31 1 3,412,515 11/1968 Finon ..52/496 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 243,277 1947 Switzerland ..52/496 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park and Gibson [57 anscr A wall assembly for mounting on a substantially planar supporting wall structure and characterized by being easily reversible to provide a desired decorative effect. The wall assembly includes at least two elongated splines which are removably secured in spaced-apart parallel relation to the planar supporting structure. An elongate planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics for providing a desired decorative appearance on opposite faces thereof has the longitudinal edges thereof reversibly interconnected with proximal edges of the splines.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 3,256,666 6/1966 Farmer ..52/481 Wmmwm 3,6d3,395

SHEET 0F 2 INVENTORS: RICHARB C. SCHUVLEE, I comma-(3.6 HUYLEE, ARGAEET E. EH FW, WILEIAM E; ToEHAS an Acva R. Fl NEY ATTORNEYB REVERSIBLE WALL ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a wall assembly and more particularly to a wall assembly characterized by being easily reversible to provide a different decorative effect.

In building structures, commercial or otherwise, old or new, it is conventional to finish the faces of the walls, particularly those interior to the building structure with some conventional wallboard, lath and plaster, etc., which may in itself provide a decorative appearance or may be painted and/or covered with some decorative material to provide a decorative effect. In any event, the decorative appearance of the finished faces of these walls is substantially permanent in that only limited modifications have been provided for altering the decorative appearance thereof such as additional painting and/or covering with a material having a different decorative appearance, either ofwhich is both time consuming and expensive.

While there have been provided various wall assemblies for mounting on a wall structure to render it a new decorative appearance which are readily mountable and demountable therefrom, these wall assemblies are not so constructed that they may be reversed to provide a different decorative effect and thus, provide an inexpensive structure which enables the decorative appearance of a wall structure to be easily changed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wall assembly for use with a wall structure which is easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and which may be utilized to finish an interior wall ofa building structure or utilized to render a preexisting wall structure a new decorative appearance.

By this invention, it has been found that the above object can be accomplished by providing a wall assembly comprising at least two elongate splines, and means removably carrying the splines in spaced apart parallel relation on a planar supporting wall structure. At least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of the faces is reversibly interconnected between proximal edges of the spaced apart splines for mounting the planar wall panel between the splines with either ofthe opposite faces facing away from the planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect. Easy removal and remounting of the wall panel between the splines is provided so that the wall panel may be reversed with the opposite of the faces facing away from the planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect.

Preferably, the elongate planar wall panel has a width slightly greater than the distance between proximal edges of the spaced apart splines and includes complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges thereof defining a longitudinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of the panel that extend therealong a distance corresponding to the length of the splines with the proximal longitudinal edges of the splines being received in the recesses with the spaced apart marginal edge portions overlapping the splines.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of a building structure wherein the walls have been finished with a wall assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view with portions broken away taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 41 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view with portions broken away and in section illustrating the mounting of the wall assembly of FIG. l to a planar supporting structure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 4 illustrating support for adjacent wall panels of the wall assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view with parts broken away and in section illustrating the reversible interconnection of adjacent wall panels of the wall assembly of FIG. I.

Referring specifically to the various figures wherein like reference characters indicate like parts there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a portion of the interior of a conventional building structure 10 having a conventional floor l1 and ceiling l2. The building structure 10 further includes sidewalls l3 and 14 having wall assemblies, generally indicated at 20, constructed in accordance with the present invention. mounted thereon.

The sidewalls l3 and 14 provide a substantially planar supporting structure for mounting the wall assemblies 20 and may be made by standard construction including studs 15 and finished with a wallboard 16 or any other conventional finishing materials. However, as illustrated in the description to follow, it is not necessary that the entire walls 113 and M be finished but that only the portions 13a and Ma not covered by the wall assemblies 20 and in which case spaced apart wall studs 15, FIG. 2, cooperate to provide a planar supporting structure for the wall assemblies 20. Since the wall assemblies 20 mounted on walls 13 and M are identical, only that mounted on wall 114 will be described in detail.

Briefly stated, wall assembly 20 covers the unfinished portion of walls 13 and 14 and includes at least two and preferably a plurality of elongate splines 21 removably carried in spaced apart parallel relation to the planar supporting structure, that is, studs 15. While the splines 21 are illustrated as being mounted vertically, it will be readily apparent they may equally well be disposed at some other angle such as horizontal. Elongate planar wall panels 22 include opposite faces 22a and 22b having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of the faces 22a and 22b and have the longitudinal side edges thereof reversibly interconnected between adjacent splines 21 so that the wall panels 22 may be interconnected between splines 21 with either decorative face 22a or 22b facing away from wall studs 15.

More particularly, generally planar furring blocks 23, FIG. 5, having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the wallboard 16 with which wall portions Ma are finished, are permanently mounted at spaced intervals along the length of spaced apart vertical wall studs 15 so as to cooperate with finished wall portions 14a to provide a substantially planar supporting structure.

Brackets 24, FIG. 6, having spaced apart leg members 24a and 24b joined at one end and open at the other end are permanently mounted on furring blocks 23 by screws 25 or any other conventional means with one leg 24a thereof abutting furring block 23. The other leg 2% is spaced from furring block 23 with the open end of bracket 24 facing upward. As best shown in FIG. 6, elongate splines 21 include an observe and reverse side, with the reverse side having an elongate recess extending longitudinally thereof to form spaced apart projections 26. At spaced intervals along splines 21 corresponding to the spacing of brackets 24, spline projections 26 include cooperating transverse recesses 27 which communicate with the space between projections 26.

Elongate clips 28 are disposed between projections 26 and have opposite end portions thereof received and secured in cooperating recesses 27. The intermediate portion of clips 2% are spaced from splines 21 such that the intermediate portion of clips 28 may be received between spaced apart legs 24a and 24b of brackets 24, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, for removably securing splines 21 to brackets 24. Preferably, clips 28 fit flush with the reverse side of splines 21 so that when splines 21 are removably secured to brackets 24, they will be spaced from the supporting structure or as in the present case from furring blocks 23 a distance equivalent to the thickness of leg 24a of brackets 24, FIGS. 2 and 3, for reasons to readily become apparent. The observe side of splines 21 are preferably finished in any suitable manner to provide an attractive appearance since a portion thereof will be observable as shown in FIG. 1.

As mentioned above, the wall assembly further includes elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panels 22 having a generally uniform width for mounting between adjacent splines 21. As previously indicated, opposite faces 22a and 22b of the panels 22 have different surface characteristics to provide different decorative appearances thereon. In the wall assembly 20 illustrated in the various figures, faces 22a have wood grain surface characteristics and faces 22b have an ornamental design on the surfaces thereof.

The panels 22 may be fabricated in accordance with any conventional techniques and any desirable surface characteristics may be imparted to opposite faces 22a and 22b by any conventional means. However, as illustrated, each of the wall panels 22 preferably comprise an elongate, generally rectangular, planar core having a uniform width substantially equal to the distance between proximal edges of adjacent splines 21 and is, preferably, formed of a lightweight and inexpensive material such as paper board or the like. Elongate, generally rectangular, planar layers 31 and 32 are superimposed on opposite sides of core 30 and are secured thereto by any conventional means such as by an adhesive. The layers 31 and 32 have awidth and length slightly greater than that of core 30 and are superimposed on core 30 such that both marginal longitudinal and transverse edges of layers 31 and 32 extend beyond the longitudinal and transverse edges of core 30, respectively, to define complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the edges of core 30. As will be apparent, the opposite faces 22a and 22b of wall panel 22, which are also the outer faces of layers 31 and 32, respectively, may be formed with the desired surface characteristics thereon prior to securing of layers 31 and 32 to core 30 or after securing to core 30.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 8 the longitudinal edges of wall panels 22 are reversibly interconnected with proximal longitudinal edges of adjacent spaced apart splines 21. More particularly, the proximal longitudinal edges of adjacent splines 21 are received between the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions of adjacent wall panels 22 with the marginal edge portions thereof overlapping opposite sides of splines 21. Thus, it can be seen that wall panels 22 may be interconnected between adjacent splines 21 with either decorative face 22a and 22b facing away from the planar sup porting structure to provide a desired decorative effect.

To complete the wall assembly 20 panel supports, FIG. 6, are provided and comprise a generally U-shaped channel support member having side walls 41 and 42. At the free edges of each of the sidewalls, flanges 43 and 44 extend transversely therefrom, respectively. A channel support member 40 is preferably mounted in alignment with each vertical row of brackets 24 adjacent the lower end of spline 21 on finished portion 14a of wall 14 with flanges 43 and 44 spaced therefrom and extending transversely to spline 21. Spline 21, preferably, includes a cutout portion 45 adjacent the lower end thereof to form shoulders 46 on spaced apart projections 26. The spline 21 is mounted with shoulders 46 in abutting relation with the top end of channel member 40 and in covering relation thereto so as to conceal the channel support members 40. The channel support members 40 further include projections 47 and 48 which extend from flange members 43 and 44 parallel therefrom as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 from the lower end thereof which are received between the complementary spaced apart transverse marginal edge portions of adjacent wall panels 22 in abutting relation with the lower transverse edge of core 30 and with flanges 43 and 44 received between the complementary spaced apart longitudinal marginal edge portions of adjacent wall panels 22. Thus, channel support members 40 provide support for wall panels 22 and due to their interconnection with splines 21 and wall panels 22, the channel support members 40 are concealed and accordingly, do not distract from the decorative effect of the wall assembly 20.

The wall assembly 20 as illustrated herein is mounted by first securing furring blocks 23 in spaced relation along vertical studs 15 to which a spline 21 is to be removably secured. Brackets 24 are then secured to each of the furring blocks 23 as previously described and illustrated in FIG. 6. Similarly, channel support members 40 are secured to the finished portion 14a of wall 14 in alignment with each row of brackets 24, also as previously described and illustrated in FIG. 6.

With reference to FIG. 1, starting at one side of wall 14, a spline 21 with clips 28 secured thereto is removably secured to brackets 24 with shoulders 46 abutting channel support member 40. A wall panel 22 with one of the faces 22a and 22b facing away from the planar supporting structure, wall studs 15, is positioned adjacent to spline 21 with the lower transverse edge thereof at a level slightly above adjacent channel support members 40 and with the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof aligned with the longitudinal edge of spline 21. Then wall panel 22 is shifted laterally toward spline 21 so that the longitudinal edge of spline 21 is received between the complementary spaced apart longitudinal marginal edge portions of wall panel 22.

With the lower transverse edge of the wall panel 22 still positioned above adjacent channel support members 40 another spline 21 is reversibly interconnected with the remote longitudinal edge of wall panel 22, that is, with a longitudinal edge of spline 21 received between the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions of the remote longitudinal edge thereof. Then the latter spline 21 is removably secured to brackets 24 as previously described and illustrated in FIG. 6. The wall panel 22 is then allowed to slide downward between proximal edges of adjacent splines 21 so that the lower transverse edge of core 30 will enter into abutting relation with projections 47 and 48 of adjacent channel support members 40 for supporting the wall panel 22 between adjacent splines 21. The mounting of the wall assembly 20 continues in this manner until the area to be decorated is covered.

When it is desired to reverse any one or all the decorative wall panels 22 of the wall assembly 20, the splines 21 and wall panels 22 are removed by the reverse procedure. The desired wall panels 22 are then reversed and the splines 21 and wall panels 22 reassembled as previously described. Thus, it is readily apparent that a wall assembly 20 has been provided which is easily reversible and which upon reversing provides a different decorative effect and which may be utilized to finish a wall of a building structure or utilized to render a preexisting wall structure a new decorative appearance.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. For use on a vertical, substantially planar supporting wall structure; a wall assembly specifically characterized by being easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and comprising in an assembled condition at least two elongate splines, at least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of said faces and having a predetermined uniform width and complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said panel defining a longitudinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of said panel and extending therealong a distance corresponding to the length of said splines, the lower transverse edge of said elongate panel including complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions defining a transverse recess therein communicating with the longitudinal recessed defined in the longitudinal edges ofsaid panel, and

support means secured to said supporting structure adjacent each longitudinal edge of said panel and adjacent the lower transverse edge of said panel, said support means having projection means extending laterally therefrom toward said panel, said projection means being received in the transverse recess defined in the lower transverse edge of said panel with the lower transverse edge of said panel between said complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions resting on said projection means and being supported thereby, said support means removably carrying said splines and said panel in vertical orientation with said splines spaced from said supporting surface and mounted in overlying relation to said support means whereby said support means will be concealed by said splines and wall panel,

the longitudinal edges of said planar wall panel being reversibly interconnected with proximal edges of said splines for mounting said planar wall panel between said splines with either of said opposite faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect and for permitting easy removal and remounting of said wall panel between said splines with the opposite of said faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect.

2. For use on a substantially planar supporting wall structure; a wall assembly specifically characterized by being easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and comprising in an assembled condition at least two elongate splines,

at least two brackets each having spaced apart leg members joined together at one end and open at the other end, said brackets being mounted in spaced relation on said supporting structure and each having one leg thereof permanently secured to said planar supporting structure and the other leg spaced from said planar supporting structure with the open end of said spaced apart legs facing upward,

clip means carried by each of said splines for reception between said corresponding spaced apart leg members to removably secure said splines to said brackets, and in spaced apart parallel relation,

at least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of said faces and having a uniform width of substantially the distance between proximal edges of said spaced apart splines, the longitudinal edges of said planar wall panel being reversibly interconnected with proximal edges of said spaced apart splines for mounting said planar wall panel between said splines with either of said opposite faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect and for permitting easy removal and remounting of said wall panel between said splines with the opposite of said faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect.

3. The wall assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongate planar wall panel comprises an elongate, generally rectangular, planar core having a uniform width substantially the distance between prox imal edges of said spaced apart splines a pair of elongate, generally rectangular, planar layers having different surface characteristics and being superimposed on opposite sides of said core and having a uniform width slightly greater than the distance between proximal edges of said splines with marginal longitudinal edge portions extending beyond the longitudinal edges of said core to form complementary spaced apart marginal edge por tions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said core defining a longitudinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of said panel, said recesses receiving the proximal longitudinal edges of said spaced apart splines therein with the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions overlapping said splines.

d. The wall assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said clip means comprises an elongate member having opposite end portions connected to and carried by said spline and an intermediate portion spaced from said spline and received between said spaced apart legs of said bracket.

5. The wall assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said elongate splines include an observe and reverse side, said spline having an elongate recess disposed in said reverse side and extending longitudinally of said spline, said recess having a width slightly greater than that of said leg of said bracket spaced from said planar supporting structure, said clip means being disposed on the reverse side ofsaid spline and straddling said recess, said leg of said bracket spaced from said planar supporting structure being received in said recess with said clip means disposed between the spaced apart legs of said bracket.

5. For use on a vertical substantially planar supporting wall structure; a wall assembly specifically characterized by being easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and comprising in an assembled condition at least two elongate splines,

means for removably carrying each of said splines in spaced apart parallel relation on said planar supporting structure with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, said means comprising a bracket having spaced apart leg members joined together at one end and open at the other end, said bracket having one leg thereof permanently secured to said planar supporting structure and the other leg spaced from said planar supporting structure with the open end of said spaced apart legs facing upward, and elongate clip means having opposite end portions connected to and carried by said spline and an intermediate portion spaced from said spline and received between said spaced apart legs of said bracket,

at least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of said faces and having a uniform width slightly greater than the distance between proximal edges of said spaced apart splines and further including complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said panel defining a longitu dinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of said panel and extending therealong a distance corresponding to the length of said splines, the proximal longitudinal edges of said splines being received in said recesses with the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions overlapping said splines with either of said opposite faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect and for permitting easy removal and remounting of said wall panel between said splines with the opposite of said faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect, and

support means secured to said planar supporting structure adjacent the lower transverse edge of said panel in abutting relation thereto for supporting said panel between said splines. 

1. For use on a vertical, substantially planar supporting wall structure; a wall assembly specifically characterized by being easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and comprising in an assembled condition at least two elongate splines, at least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of said faces and having a predetermined uniform width and complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said panel defining a longitudinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of said panel and extending therealong a distance corresponding to the length of said splines, the lower transverse edge of said elongate panel including complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions defining a transverse recess therein communicating with the longitudinal recessed defined in the longitudinal edges of said panel, and support means secured to said supporting structure adjacent each longitudinal edge of said panel and adjacent the lower transverse edge of said panel, said support means having projection means extending laterally therefrom toward said panel, said projection means being received in the transverse recess defined in the lower transverse edge of said panel with the lower transverse edge of said panel between said complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions resting on said projection means and being supported thereby, said support means removably carrying said splines and said panel in vertical orientation with said splines spaced from said supporting surface and mounted in overlying relation to said support means whereby said support means will be concealed by said splines and wall panel, the longitudinal edges of said planar wall panel being reversibly interconnected with proximal edges of said splines for mounting said planar wall panel between said splines with either of said opposite faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect and for permitting easy removal and remounting of said wall panel between said splines with the opposite of said faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect.
 2. For use on a substantially planar supporting wall structure; a wall assembly specifically characterized by being easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and comprising in an assembled condition at least two elongate splines, at least two brackets each having spaced apart leg members joiNed together at one end and open at the other end, said brackets being mounted in spaced relation on said supporting structure and each having one leg thereof permanently secured to said planar supporting structure and the other leg spaced from said planar supporting structure with the open end of said spaced apart legs facing upward, clip means carried by each of said splines for reception between said corresponding spaced apart leg members to removably secure said splines to said brackets, and in spaced apart parallel relation, at least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of said faces and having a uniform width of substantially the distance between proximal edges of said spaced apart splines, the longitudinal edges of said planar wall panel being reversibly interconnected with proximal edges of said spaced apart splines for mounting said planar wall panel between said splines with either of said opposite faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect and for permitting easy removal and remounting of said wall panel between said splines with the opposite of said faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect.
 3. The wall assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongate planar wall panel comprises an elongate, generally rectangular, planar core having a uniform width substantially the distance between proximal edges of said spaced apart splines, a pair of elongate, generally rectangular, planar layers having different surface characteristics and being superimposed on opposite sides of said core and having a uniform width slightly greater than the distance between proximal edges of said splines with marginal longitudinal edge portions extending beyond the longitudinal edges of said core to form complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said core defining a longitudinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of said panel, said recesses receiving the proximal longitudinal edges of said spaced apart splines therein with the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions overlapping said splines.
 4. The wall assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said clip means comprises an elongate member having opposite end portions connected to and carried by said spline and an intermediate portion spaced from said spline and received between said spaced apart legs of said bracket.
 5. The wall assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said elongate splines include an observe and reverse side, said spline having an elongate recess disposed in said reverse side and extending longitudinally of said spline, said recess having a width slightly greater than that of said leg of said bracket spaced from said planar supporting structure, said clip means being disposed on the reverse side of said spline and straddling said recess, said leg of said bracket spaced from said planar supporting structure being received in said recess with said clip means disposed between the spaced apart legs of said bracket.
 6. For use on a vertical substantially planar supporting wall structure; a wall assembly specifically characterized by being easily reversible to provide different decorative effects and comprising in an assembled condition at least two elongate splines, means for removably carrying each of said splines in spaced apart parallel relation on said planar supporting structure with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, said means comprising a bracket having spaced apart leg members joined together at one end and open at the other end, said bracket having one leg thereof permanently secured to said planar supporting structure and the other leg spaced from said planar supporting structure with the open end of said spaced apart legS facing upward, and elongate clip means having opposite end portions connected to and carried by said spline and an intermediate portion spaced from said spline and received between said spaced apart legs of said bracket, at least one elongate, generally rectangular, planar wall panel including opposite faces having different surface characteristics providing a desired decorative appearance on each of said faces and having a uniform width slightly greater than the distance between proximal edges of said spaced apart splines and further including complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of said panel defining a longitudinal recess in each of the longitudinal edges of said panel and extending therealong a distance corresponding to the length of said splines, the proximal longitudinal edges of said splines being received in said recesses with the complementary spaced apart marginal edge portions overlapping said splines with either of said opposite faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a desired decorative effect and for permitting easy removal and remounting of said wall panel between said splines with the opposite of said faces facing away from said planar supporting structure to provide a different decorative effect, and support means secured to said planar supporting structure adjacent the lower transverse edge of said panel in abutting relation thereto for supporting said panel between said splines. 